Automatic activation of cleaning mode in dental systems

Abstract

A method for automatically initiating a dental handpiece waterline cleaning mode in a dental delivery system includes detecting whether at least a first and a second handpiece waterline of a plurality of handpiece waterlines are removed from respective first and second rest positions of a control head of the dental delivery system. According to some embodiments, when it is determined that no additional dental handpiece waterlines that are cleanable remain in the rest positions of the control head, a dental handpiece waterline cleaning mode is automatically initiated for the first and second dental handpiece waterlines. In some embodiments, a display is updated to provide information to a user and input is received from the user to initiate cleaning.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] A dental delivery system provides physical connections for delivering air, water, power, and / or data to dental handpieces and other similar devices that a practitioner uses in performing dental treatment on a patient. Because a typical treatment procedure may involve the use of more than one handpiece, the control head of the dental delivery system typically has multiple defined positions for accepting multiple handpieces. At least some of the handpiece control head positions have connections to a source of pressurized fluid, typically air and / or water. [Background technology]

[0002] Handpieces that use water to supply the treatment site or as a handpiece coolant have waterlines that can be flushed after each patient visit. Typical types of handpiece waterlines that can be flushed include those that supply dental syringes, air-driven handpieces (high and low speed), electric handpieces, surgical handpieces, sanitary handpieces, ultrasonic handpieces, etc. The handpiece waterline may be one component of the physical connection between the handpiece and a control head that also supplies air, data, power, etc. The water delivered through the waterline may come from a direct connection to the building's water supply or from a separate bottled water system (sometimes referred to as a self-contained water system).

[0003] Performing waterline flushing, typically with water, reduces the risk of spreading infectious materials from the oral cavity that may have been inadvertently drawn into the waterline from the handpiece by using water to rinse or drain any such materials from the waterline, such as into a sink or other suitable location for safe disposal. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Irrigation of such waterlines (and any attached handpieces) can be performed manually, but typically requires precise, coordinated movements to be performed quickly within the few minutes between patient visits. It would be desirable to provide a handpiece waterline irrigation that can be initiated automatically for multiple handpieces, can be performed more quickly with fewer operations and greater flexibility, and can provide increased assurance that the irrigation is properly completed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Below, various methods and devices are described for automatically initiating a cleaning mode in a dental delivery system.

[0006] According to a first method embodiment, automatically initiating a dental handpiece waterline flushing mode includes detecting whether at least first and second handpiece waterlines of a plurality of handpiece waterlines are removed from first and second waterline resting positions, respectively, of a control head of a dental delivery system, determining that no additional dental handpiece waterlines remain available for flushing in the waterline resting positions of the control head of the dental delivery system, and automatically initiating a dental handpiece waterline flushing mode for the first and second dental handpiece waterlines. After the waterline flushing mode has been initiated or entered, flushing can be initiated by a user action (e.g., activation of a control element or touchscreen element, or another type of actuation / activation, etc.).

[0007] Automatically initiating the dental handpiece waterline flush mode includes updating the display to indicate entry into the dental handpiece waterline flush mode, indicating that the first and second dental handpiece waterlines are removed from their respective first and second waterline rest positions, indicating entry into a timed flush mode, and / or indicating entry into a manual flush mode. The display can be configured to indicate a selectable number of predetermined flush times and / or the time remaining in a selected flush mode.

[0008] Automatically initiating the dental handpiece waterline flush mode can include configuring the control to receive manual input from a user to initiate flushing and / or updating the display to show a control element on the touchscreen that accepts manual input from a user to initiate flushing.

[0009] According to another embodiment, a dental delivery system configured to automatically initiate a handpiece waterline flushing mode includes a plurality of dental handpiece waterline resting positions, including at least a first handpiece waterline resting position and a second handpiece waterline resting position, configured to be accessible to a user, a first detector configured to detect whether the first handpiece waterline resting position is unoccupied by a first handpiece waterline, a second detector configured to detect whether the second handpiece waterline resting position is unoccupied by a second handpiece waterline, and a controller coupled to at least the first and second detectors in a control circuit. The controller is programmed to automatically initiate the handpiece waterline flushing mode when the first and second detectors indicate that the first and second handpiece waterline resting positions are unoccupied, respectively.

[0010] The controller can be programmed to determine whether the first and second handpiece waterlines are for use with a cleanable handpiece, such that the handpiece waterline cleaning mode is initiated only if the first and second handpiece waterlines are for use with a cleanable handpiece.

[0011] The controller can be programmed to receive handpiece identification information from a memory location, the handpiece identification information can identify whether the first handpiece waterline rest position and the second handpiece waterline rest position are designated to connect to the first and second washable handpieces, respectively.

[0012] The dental delivery system can include a display that can be configured to indicate that the handpiece waterline flush mode has been initiated regardless of whether the first and second handpiece waterline rest positions are occupied, change appearance to indicate that the first handpiece waterline has been moved from the first handpiece waterline rest position or the second handpiece waterline has been moved from the second handpiece waterline rest position, indicate that the waterline flush mode is a timed flush mode or a manual flush mode, and / or indicate a user-selectable control operable to initiate the waterline flush mode.

[0013] At least one of the first or second detectors can include a switch having a biased contact element configured to contact the respective handpiece water line (or handpiece tubing) when the respective handpiece water line is removed from or returned to its respective rest position. The switch can be coupled to the handpiece holder and configured to contact one side of each of the handpiece water lines (or handpiece tubing) received in the handpiece holder. The switch can be attached to a whip arm that movably supports one of the first and second handpiece water lines and configured to change state upon detecting that the whip arm has been moved into position to indicate that each of the water lines supported by the whip arm has been moved from its rest position.

[0014] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosed technology will become more apparent from the following detailed description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative delivery system of one common type. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of another exemplary delivery system according to another general type. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the delivery system of FIG. 2 showing one of the handpieces connected by handpiece tubing (including handpiece water lines) supported by the whip arm moved from its rest position. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a type of switch used to detect whether the handpiece waterline (or handpiece tubing) is in its rest position. [Figure 5]1 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for automatically initiating a cleaning mode in a dental delivery system. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating selected elements of a dental delivery system capable of implementing automatic initiation of a cleaning mode. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface that may be displayed on a touchscreen used with the delivery system to, for example, indicate various states of the system and receive input from the user. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface that may be displayed on a touchscreen used with the delivery system to, for example, indicate various states of the system and receive input from the user. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface that may be displayed on a touchscreen used with the delivery system to, for example, indicate various states of the system and receive input from the user. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface that may be displayed on a touchscreen used with the delivery system to, for example, indicate various states of the system and receive input from the user. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface that may be displayed on a touchscreen used with the delivery system to, for example, indicate various states of the system and receive input from the user. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface that may be displayed on a touchscreen used with the delivery system to, for example, indicate various states of the system and receive input from the user. [Figure 13]FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface that may be displayed on a touchscreen used with the delivery system to, for example, indicate various states of the system and receive input from the user. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface that may be displayed on a touchscreen used with the delivery system to, for example, indicate various states of the system and receive input from the user. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary graphical user interface that may be displayed on a touchscreen used with the delivery system to, for example, indicate various states of the system and receive input from the user. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Described below is a novel method and apparatus implemented using a dental delivery system control head for automatically initiating (or automatically entering) a cleaning mode for cleaning a dental handpiece waterline (and any dental headpiece attached to the dental handpiece waterline).

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a commercially available dental delivery system having a control head 100. Multiple handpieces, e.g., five handpieces in the example of FIG. 1, can be coupled to the control head 100 by respective handpiece tubing 102, thereby appropriately supplying fluids, such as water or air, power, and / or data to or through the handpieces for treating a patient. Each handpiece tubing 102 includes at least one pathway, but typically includes multiple separate pathways for one or more fluids, power, and / or data, with multiple pathways arranged together within the tubing for ease of handling and cleaning. Fluid pathways are typically formed from individual tubing segments or as individual channels of a multi-channel structure. Power pathways are typically wired or cabled connections. Data connections are typically wired or cabled connections.

[0018] As some examples, pressurized air can be provided to power or cool the handpiece. Pressurized air can also be provided to cool and remove stains from the teeth or other treatment area. Pressurized water can also be provided to cool and / or remove stains from the teeth or other treatment area. Electrical power can be provided to power the handpiece. Data can be transferred to communicate information about the handpiece, its use, etc.

[0019] Of particular interest here are the fluid paths within the handpiece tubing that deliver water to the handpiece, referred to herein as the waterline. In some cases, the term "waterline" as used herein can also refer to the handpiece tubing with which the waterline is associated.

[0020] As a first example, a conventional dental syringe 104 used to deliver air and water through the distal end of the syringe is illustrated occupying a first position, defined as Position 1. The dental syringe 104 and its handpiece tubing assembly 102 in Position 1 can be described as occupying a "rest position" (i.e., not operating) as shown. Similarly, the handpiece tubing 102 in Positions 2-5 (shown without a handpiece attached) are also in their respective rest positions. Thus, the water lines within the handpiece tubing 102 for the dental syringe 104 in Position 1, and any water lines present within the handpiece tubing 102 in Positions 2-5, can also be described as occupying their respective "rest positions." Each rest position can be further defined in relation to the state of a switch or indicator, as described in more detail below. In the case of the control head 100, the rest position may also be referred to as a "holder position" because the physical configuration includes openings shaped to hold the handpiece tubing and any attached handpiece in place.

[0021] For handpiece tubing 102 in positions 2-5, shown without a handpiece attached, the handpiece tubing may terminate in a handpiece nut or swivel, as described in more detail below. In some control heads, only some of the handpiece positions have corresponding water lines for fluid supply (sometimes referred to as "block positions"). Other handpiece positions may be assigned to handpieces that do not require a fluid connection (e.g., handpieces requiring only an electrical connection). For purposes of the following description, each handpiece tubing in positions 2-5 is assumed to include a respective water line, and any reference below to a handpiece water line will generally include its respective surrounding handpiece tubing, as is clear from the particular context.

[0022] As shown, the control head 100 has a housing 106 that defines a space for accommodating lines for water, air, any other fluids, data, and power, and control elements for fluid and electrical circuits and their interconnections, including valves, solenoid valves, a control block, one or more circuit boards, one or more controllers or microprocessors, and other components.

[0023] A touchpad 108 (or other input / output device) provides a user interface through which the user can view status information, instructions, alerts, etc., and can make inputs, as described in more detail below. A movable tray 110 can be positioned above the control head for easy user access. One or more movable arm portions 114 can support the control head in a desired position relative to the patient, who typically lies face down in the chair, and the practitioner, who typically sits adjacent to the dental chair.

[0024] The dental delivery system of FIG. 1 may be referred to as a "traditional" dental delivery system (with suspended handpiece tubing). An alternative dental delivery system, sometimes referred to as a Continental®-type delivery system (with handpiece tubing supported by a whip arm), is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, there are six handpiece positions (positions 1-6) defined relative to the control head 200. In the illustrated embodiment, positions 1-6 each have a handpiece tubing 202. As noted above, each handpiece tubing 202 includes one or more paths for air, water, electricity, and / or data. Also, as noted above, this specification assumes (although not necessarily) that there is a handpiece waterline within each handpiece tubing 202. Accordingly, the handpiece tubing 202 will be referred to as a handpiece waterline 202 in the following description. In the example of FIG. 2, each handpiece waterline 202 is shown connected to a corresponding handpiece 204. Each water line 202 is supported by a hinged whip arm 220 that is biased to its rest position, as shown in FIG.

[0025] In Figure 2, each handpiece 204, and correspondingly, each handpiece waterline 202, is in a rest position. In Figure 3, handpiece 204 in Position 4 is shown moved from its rest position, with its waterline 202 supported along a portion of whip arm 220 bent forward at its hinge. As discussed above with respect to Figure 1, the state of handpiece 204 / handpiece waterline 202 being removed from its rest position can be further defined in terms of the state of a switch, such as a switch configured to change state when the whip arm is bent forward a predetermined angle or distance, as described in more detail below.

[0026] The control head 200 can have a housing 206 and a touchpad 208, similar to the housing 106 and touchpad 108 described above for the control head 100. The control head 200 can also have a handle 212 for moving the control head to a new position.

[0027] In the embodiments described herein, the term "dental delivery system" refers to an apparatus that provides the physical connections for delivering air, water, power, and / or data to dental handpieces and other similar devices used by practitioners in performing dental treatment on patients. A dental delivery system typically includes a control head as one of its physical and / or logical components. In some cases, an assistant's instrument, which is one type of dental delivery system, does not include a control head itself.

[0028] The dental delivery system may be part of or associated with other devices and / or components used in a dental environment. For example, "dental treatment center" and other similar terms may refer to the dental delivery system as well as the patient chair, cuspidor, support center, operating lights, etc., and the support arms and connections between the components. In some cases, portions of the control circuitry for controlling the cleaning operation, which may include primary or redundant control, may be associated with the support center or located elsewhere throughout the treatment center.

[0029] Irrigation is a type of cleaning procedure performed on certain types of dental handpiece waterlines (and sometimes on dental handpieces attached to the waterlines). "Irrigation" refers to conveying a flow of liquid under pressure, typically water or treated water, through the waterline and any attached handpieces. In dentistry, irrigation can be performed for a variety of purposes, depending on the purpose of the cleaning. According to one type of irrigation, performed relatively frequently and for a relatively short period of time, handpiece waterlines are typically flushed immediately after each patient visit (generally before connecting a freshly sterilized handpiece to the handpiece waterline for the next patient). The flushing action after a patient's treatment expels any remaining water in the waterline, including water that may have been drawn into the waterline from the handpiece or oral cavity, thereby reducing the risk of spreading infectious materials from the patient to others.

[0030] Additionally, if waterline treatment chemicals are used in the water supplied to the waterlines (sometimes referred to as "dental unit water"), flushing helps replenish the water in the lines with fresh treated water to ensure maximum effectiveness of the chemicals in the waterlines. Periodically, a more aggressive chemical solution can be run through the dental unit water system, intended to remove any bacterial biofilm that may have developed on its interior surfaces. After the solution has performed its cleaning function, a water flush is used to purge the chemicals from the water system.

[0031] Typically, only certain types of handpiece tubing are cleaned, and these (and the respective handpieces) are referred to herein as "cleanable" or "suitable for cleaning." For example, only the tubing assemblies for handpieces that carry liquids are typically cleanable. Such handpiece tubing may be allocated to only selected locations within the control head. Representative types of handpiece waterlines that can be cleaned include those that supply dental syringes, air-driven handpieces (high and low speed), electric handpieces, surgical handpieces, sanitary handpieces, ultrasonic handpieces, etc.

[0032] Dental syringes used to dispense water and air, and therefore have associated lines for supplying water, may or may not be designated as washable handpieces. If a dental syringe is of a type that supplies water only upon activation of a manual control on the dental syringe itself (e.g., has a water "button"), the syringe is typically not designated as a washable handpiece. If the dental syringe is of a type where control of water flow can be achieved through a control head or other control element in the overall system, the dental syringe may be included as a washable handpiece.

[0033] During a typical patient visit, multiple handpieces may be used to treat a patient. Because multiple handpieces suitable for irrigation are typically used, the waterlines of these handpieces are usually rinsed before the next use. While the recommended rinse time per handpiece waterline may be relatively short, such as 20-30 seconds (or at most 2 minutes), if two, three, four, or five handpiece waterlines need to be rinsed, rinsing multiple handpieces simultaneously or sequentially (based on the reduction in required user actions) can save time.

[0034] The entire system of a waterline supplying water to a handpiece includes an external tubing portion extending from the control head to the handpiece nut or other termination, and an internal or enclosed tubing portion within the control head that extends upstream to the water source. The waterline is understood to include intermediate flow controls and other components through which the water passes on its route from the water source to the termination of the waterline.

[0035] As described, the new method and apparatus can detect whether at least two handpiece waterlines for a cleanable handpiece have been removed from their resting positions and automatically initiate or enter a cleaning mode for the handpiece waterlines if no additional waterlines for the cleanable handpiece remain in their resting positions. Among other benefits, the new method and apparatus can save practitioners time during valuable periods between patient visits and help ensure that all eligible handpiece waterlines are properly cleaned. The described approach also minimizes the number of "touches" a user must make to perform a task, thereby facilitating the overall process and promoting hygiene.

[0036] In the described embodiment, the flush mode is not automatically initiated (or enabled), i.e., actual flushing with water cannot begin until all eligible handpiece waterlines have been moved from their resting positions. This serves to ensure that the user is aware that they have not completed flushing some waterlines and neglected to flush at least one other waterline, which is a possible error in the current flush routine.

[0037] Even when, under certain conditions, such as to maintain a high irrigation flow rate, irrigation of multiple handpieces is performed sequentially rather than simultaneously, it is still advantageous to automatically program a sequence of actions to minimize the number of actions the user must take.

[0038] Additionally, the practitioner may be guided through the steps by indications on the display, including one or more of the following: (a) an indication that all handpiece waterlines are in their resting positions (i.e., no handpieces are in use); (b) an indication that a first handpiece waterline has been removed from its resting position (e.g., the display may change to indicate the operating mode for the first handpiece); (c) an indication that a second handpiece waterline has been removed from its resting position (e.g., the display may change from the operating mode for the first handpiece to another mode); (d) an indication that a cleaning mode has been automatically entered (e.g., if the first and second handpieces are cleanable handpieces and there are no additional cleanable handpieces remaining in the resting position); (e) an indication that a fault or error has occurred (e.g., if a particular non-cleanable handpiece waterline has been removed from its resting position).

[0039] 5 is a flow chart illustrating steps in an exemplary method 500 for automatically initiating a cleaning mode. At process block 502, it is assumed that all handpiece water lines (whether or not a handpiece is attached) are in their rest positions.

[0040] At process block 504, a visual indication that the handpiece waterlines are in their rest (idle) position can be displayed on a display screen via a graphical user interface. The display screen can be a touch screen of a touchpad similar to touchpads 108, 208 and / or a different type and / or location of display device. According to one embodiment, the display defaults to the chair adjustment function when all handpiece waterlines are in their rest positions, thus at least indirectly indicating that none of the handpiece waterlines have been removed from their rest positions. For example, FIG. 7 is a display of status information for a dental delivery system and treatment chair system showing an exemplary chair adjustment screen 602 having an input 604 for a user to adjust the position of the treatment chair.

[0041] At process block 506, it is determined whether the handpiece waterline has been moved or withdrawn from its rest position. (As previously mentioned, the handpiece waterline may have a handpiece attached, and therefore, in certain circumstances, this determination may be used to indicate that the handpiece has been withdrawn or is in use.)

[0042] If it is determined at process block 508 that the handpiece waterline has not been removed from its rest position, the display does not display updated handpiece waterline status information (e.g., the display may continue to display the chair adjustment screen, as indicated at process block 510).

[0043] If it is determined at process block 512 that the first handpiece water line has been removed from its rest position, the display may be configured to show an operational screen for the first handpiece at process block 514. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the display may be configured to show a handpiece operational screen for a basic air handpiece.

[0044] In some embodiments, the handpiece operation screen is selected to correspond to the first handpiece identification information previously entered as the default for the first location (and associated first waterline).

[0045] As a related example, Figures 14 and 15 show representative screens where initial settings are entered. Figure 14 shows the specified handpiece type for position 3 (holder 3) which is designated as Electrical Channel 1 handpiece type. Figure 15 shows the block number specified for holder 3 as block 2, indicating that the electronically controlled solenoid valve in block position 2 is plumbed to the holder 3 handpiece water line.

[0046] Thus, in some embodiments, selected handpiece water lines are individually supplied through their respective electronic solenoid valves, as also shown in Figure 15. In other embodiments, a single electronically actuated flush valve may be used in combination with pneumatically actuated valves and switches for each water line. Other configurations of valves and / or control elements are possible to achieve the described initiation of the automatic flush mode.

[0047] If, at process block 516, it is determined that the second handpiece waterline has been moved from its rest position but at least one other handpiece waterline remains in the rest position, an indication is shown that an error or failure has occurred (i.e., the system is not functional). For example, the display may be configured as shown in FIG. 9, which includes the message "Pull out conflicting handpieces. Please return all handpieces to continue." In this case, it is assumed that neither the first nor the second handpiece can function because they have both been removed from their rest positions, and therefore no operational screen is displayed. Additionally, because at least one other handpiece waterline remains in the rest position, the condition for automatic initiation of the flush mode, which requires that all flush-appropriate handpiece waterlines be removed from their rest positions, is not met unless special conditions exist.

[0048] The irrigation mode is automatically entered or initiated if it is determined that the first and second handpiece waterlines have been moved from their rest positions and any other handpiece waterlines corresponding to other irrigable handpieces have been moved from their respective rest positions at process block 520. At process block 522, the display is configured to indicate that the irrigation mode has been entered.

[0049] As a first example, the display may be configured to indicate that a timed waterline flush mode has been entered, as shown in Figure 10. As a second example, the display may be configured to indicate that a manual waterline flush mode has been entered, as shown in Figure 13. Optionally, the system may be configured to return to either the timed waterline flush mode or the manual waterline flush mode, depending on which was previously used.

[0050] Referring again to FIG. 10 , in the illustrated embodiment, a user can switch between timed mode and manual mode by selecting one of the associated tab elements 610, 612. Within timed mode, there can be multiple timed wash preset periods 614, such as specified periods of 20 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, a 20-second ("0:20") preset is selected (616), with 0:20 remaining time shown below. To begin the 20-second wash, the user presses the start button 618. Other activation techniques, including voice activation, can also be used to initiate a wash and / or other inputs described herein.

[0051] The handpiece positions on the control head are indicated on the display by circles 621, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, there are six handpiece positions (positions 1-6), with the center four positions (positions 2-5) having water lines for handpieces suitable for cleaning. Positions suitable for cleaning are indicated by solid circles 623. As each handpiece suitable for cleaning is moved from its rest position, the appearance of the corresponding solid circle may change (not shown), such as from gray to green. This may help the user determine which of the multiple handpieces have been withdrawn and which of the remaining handpieces need to be withdrawn.

[0052] Figure 11 shows the display indicating that rinsing has begun and that 15 seconds remain. If desired, the user can select the Cancel control element to stop the rinsing process. Figure 12 shows the display indicating that rinsing has finished and the handpiece water lines in positions 2, 4, and 5 have been returned to their rest positions, but the handpiece water line in position 3 is still removed from its rest position.

[0053] The audio indicator 619 can be configured to provide an audio indication, such as an alarm or chime, to indicate that a selected timed wash is complete. Additionally or alternatively, an on-screen message can indicate "completed." This is advantageous because it allows the user to direct their attention to completing other tasks while waiting for the wash (especially a longer duration wash) being performed on the sink or other vessel to complete, and when the user returns, they will see a positive message indicating that the wash is complete.

[0054] 13, an example of the user interface is shown when the manual flush mode is initiated. In the illustrated embodiment, the water lines for the flushable handpiece have been removed from their rest positions and are in the desired positions, and the manual flush mode is controlled by the user selecting flush control element 620. As shown, the user has previously pressed and held control element 620 for eight seconds. The filled circles 623 can have the same function as above, i.e., they change appearance when each associated water line is moved from or returned to its rest position.

[0055] At process block 524, the irrigation mode is terminated and process flow returns to process block 504, where the chair adjustment screen is displayed. The irrigation mode can be terminated by returning any of the extended water lines to their respective rest positions, sometimes referred to as "automatic termination." Automatic termination of the irrigation mode can save the user a step, especially when the user may be handling multiple handpiece water lines. Additionally, a user-selectable manual control element can be provided to terminate the irrigation mode. For example, control element 608, as shown in FIGS. 10-13, can be configured to terminate the irrigation mode if selected by the user while the irrigation mode is active. Other termination conditions, such as the expiration of a predetermined time, can also be defined.

[0056] The control element 608 itself, or other similar elements, may also be configured to perform other functions. For example, the control element 608 may be configured to indicate that the cleaning mode is active (whether the cleaning mode is initiated automatically as described above or manually as described below), such as by changing appearance, such as by changing color from the appearance of Figures 7, 8, or 9 (e.g., gray) to the different appearance of Figures 10-13 (e.g., green).

[0057] In some embodiments, the automatically initiated cleaning mode described above is an option included with other manually initiated cleaning functions. For example, control element 608, as shown in Figures 7, 8, or 9, or another control element, may be configured as a user-selectable control that allows the user to manually enter cleaning mode at any time.

[0058] When manually initiated, the flush mode can be configured to allow a user to initiate flushing without meeting one or more of the above constraints. For example, manually entering the flush mode may allow a user to flush one or more water lines even if one or more other flushable water lines remain in their resting positions. The control element 608 can then be selected again to exit the flush mode.

[0059] FIG. 4 illustrates one type of switch 300 suitable for detecting or signaling whether a handpiece tube has been moved from its rest position, and correspondingly, whether the handpiece water lines within the handpiece tube have been moved from their rest position. Switches 300 (or detectors) are installed in each of handpiece positions 1-5 in control head 100 of FIG. 1. Switch 300 has a lever 302 that contacts the side of the handpiece tube near its end when the handpiece tube is in its rest position in a holder (not shown) and moves to the position shown in FIG. 4 when the handpiece tube is removed or withdrawn from its rest position. Lever 302 may be spring-loaded to move to the position shown in FIG. 4. When lever 302 changes position as described, air pressure switch 306 between air pressure lines 308 and 310 changes state, generating an air pressure signal. The air pressure signal is fed back to the control board. In this manner, the system detects when the handpiece tubes (and associated handpiece water lines) have been moved from their rest positions.

[0060] An electrical switch may be used in place of the pneumatic switch 300 or detector. Additionally, other types of detectors may be used, such as those using optical, inductive, or capacitive sensing. Referring to FIGURE 4, a switch similar to switch 300 may be configured to detect when each whip arm 220 has moved forward a predetermined amount and / or to a predetermined position, thereby providing an indication that the handpiece tubing and handpiece water lines (as well as any attached handpiece) have moved from their rest positions.

[0061] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram illustrating selected elements of a dental delivery system capable of implementing automatic initiation of a cleaning mode. A controller 600, which may include one or more microprocessors, is linked to waterline rest position detectors 602 for each waterline rest position of interest (in this example, there are three waterline rest positions of interest). An example of a suitable waterline rest position detector 602 is the switch 300 described above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 4. The waterline rest position sensors 602 are linked to the controller by pneumatic, wired, and / or wireless connections. In connection with cleaning, the controller 600 is programmed to execute instructions consistent with the steps of the methods described herein, including those shown in FIG. 5. The controller 600 is linked to a memory 604. Among other data, the memory 604 can be configured to store handpiece identification data corresponding to each handpiece position and stored instructions. Handpieces that are deemed irrigable are initially configured (which can be updated at any time later) to occupy handpiece positions within the delivery system with water lines configured to support operation of these handpieces, such as providing cooling water while these handpieces are in use within the oral cavity. The water lines of this subset of handpiece positions are then identified as suitable for irrigation. Controller 600 is programmed to update touchscreen 606 as described above and to receive input from a user via touchscreen 606. Of course, touchscreen 606 could be replaced or supplemented with other I / O devices / approaches.

[0062] While various preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it should be clearly understood that the present disclosure is not limited thereto and can be variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. A method for automatically initiating a dental handpiece waterline flush mode in a dental delivery system (100, 200), comprising: detecting that at least first and second dental handpiece tubes of a plurality of dental handpiece tubes (102, 202) are removed from first and second tube rest positions, respectively, of a control head of the dental delivery system; determining that each of the first and second dental handpiece tubes is cleanable; determining whether a cleanable additional dental handpiece tube remains in a respective tube rest position of the control head of the dental delivery system, and if so, further determining whether the additional dental handpiece tube is cleanable or not; and automatically initiating the dental handpiece waterline flush mode for the first and second dental handpiece tubes if each additional dental handpiece tube does not remain in its respective tube rest position and be flushable; and updating a display to indicate that the dental handpiece waterline flush mode has been initiated. A method comprising:

2. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the display to indicate that the first and second dental handpiece tubes have been removed from the first and second tube rest positions, respectively (623).

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating the display to indicate that a timed cleaning mode (612) has been entered.

4. After the timed cleaning mode is initiated, the method further includes displaying the remaining time of the timed cleaning mode, or 4. The method of claim 3, including updating the display to show a plurality of selectable predetermined wash times.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating the display to indicate that a manual cleaning mode has been entered (610).

6. 10. The method of claim 1, including initiating a wash by updating the display to show a control element (618) on a touch screen that accepts manual input from a user.

7. 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically exiting the dental handpiece waterline flush mode when the first dental handpiece tube is returned to the first tube rest position or when the second dental handpiece tube is returned to the second tube rest position.

8. 1. A dental delivery system (100, 200) configured to automatically initiate a handpiece waterline flush mode, comprising: a plurality of dental handpiece tube resting positions configured to be accessible to a user, the plurality of dental handpiece tube resting positions including at least a first handpiece tube resting position and a second handpiece tube resting position; at least a first detector (602) configured to detect whether the first handpiece tube (102, 202) rest position is not occupied by the first handpiece tube; and a second detector configured to detect whether the second handpiece tube rest position is not occupied by the second handpiece tube (102, 202). a controller (600) connected to at least the first detector (602) and the second detector (602) in a control circuit, the controller (600) programmed to determine that first and second handpiece tubing corresponding to first and second handpiece tubing rest positions are designated for use with first and second handpieces that are washable, respectively, and to determine whether the first and second handpiece tubing are for use with washable handpieces; the controller (600) programmed to automatically initiate a handpiece waterline flush mode if the first and second detectors indicate that the first and second handpiece tubing rest positions, respectively, are unoccupied; 1. A dental delivery system comprising:

9. 9. The dental delivery system of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmed to receive handpiece tube identification information from a memory, the handpiece tube identification information identifying whether the first handpiece tube rest position and the second handpiece tube rest position are designated for connection to first and second handpieces that are cleanable, respectively.

10. 10. The dental delivery system of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmed to prevent automatic initiation of the handpiece waterline flush mode if it is determined that at least a third handpiece tube rest position is occupied by a third handpiece tube that has been flushed.

11. 10. The dental delivery system of claim 8, further comprising a display (600), the display configured to indicate that the handpiece waterline flush mode has been initiated (608).

12. The dental delivery system of claim 11 , wherein the display is configured to indicate whether the first and second handpiece tube rest positions are occupied.

13. A dental delivery system as described in claim 12, wherein the display is configured to change appearance to indicate that the first handpiece tube has moved from the first handpiece tube rest position or that the second handpiece tube has moved from the second handpiece tube rest position (623).

14. 10. The dental delivery system of claim 9, further comprising a display configured to indicate whether the handpiece waterline flush mode is a timed flush mode (612) or a manual flush mode (610), and / or the display configured to indicate a user-selectable control element (618) operable to initiate the handpiece waterline flush mode.

15. at least one of the first detector or the second detector comprises a switch (300) having a biased contact element (302) configured to contact the respective handpiece tubing; the switches are coupled to a handpiece holder and configured to contact a respective one side of the handpiece tube received in the handpiece holder; 10. The dental delivery system of claim 9, wherein the switch is attached to a whip arm (220) that movably supports one of the first and second handpiece tubes, and the switch is configured to change state upon detecting that the whip arm has been moved to a predetermined position to indicate that each of the handpiece tubes supported by the whip arm has been moved from the first handpiece tube rest position or the second handpiece tube rest position, respectively.

16. 10. The dental delivery system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of dental handpiece tube rest positions includes a third handpiece tube rest position, and further includes a third detector coupled to the controller and configured to detect whether the third handpiece tube rest position is not occupied by a third handpiece tube.

17. 1. A control circuit for automatically initiating a dental handpiece waterline flush mode in a dental delivery system, comprising: At least one processor (600); a memory (604) linked to said at least one processor and storing instructions for causing said processor to perform a plurality of operations, detecting handpiece tubes removed from their respective rest positions among the plurality of handpiece tubes, the handpiece tubes including at least a first handpiece tube removed from the first rest position and a second handpiece tube removed from the second rest position; Detecting, from among the removed handpiece tubes, that a first handpiece tube includes a first flushable handpiece waterline and that a second handpiece tube includes a second flushable handpiece waterline; determining whether additional dental handpiece waterlines remain in their respective waterline rest positions, and if so, further determining whether the additional dental handpiece waterlines are flushable or not; and automatically initiating the dental handpiece waterline flushing mode for the first handpiece waterline and the second handpiece waterline if each additional dental handpiece waterline remains in its respective waterline rest position and is not flushable, and updating a display (606) to indicate that the dental handpiece waterline flushing mode has been initiated; a memory including: A control circuit comprising:

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